10 TV Technologies Making Movie Theaters Obsolete

Today's HDTVs measure upwards of 50 inches (1.3 meters) and offer incredible picture quality compared to the standard definition TVs we were using a decade ago. That said, they're not quite the same as a projector displaying an image on a majestic movie screen -- partially because those screens are way bigger than 50 inches!

Home theater projectors like the Epson PowerLite can project an image as small as 30 inches (76 centimeters) across or up to 200 inches (5.1 meters) [source: Projector Central]. Sound big enough? Projectors aren't cheap, but offer superb picture quality under the right lighting conditions. That can be a drawback, too -- projectors need dark rooms just like movie theaters, limiting their accessibility compared to LCD and plasma screens. With that limitation in mind, anyone who has the cash to build a cozy home theater won't find much reason to go out for a night at the cinema.

Home Theater Décor

Serious movie aficionados who spend the money on a real home theater might as well go the extra mile and cook up some movie-themed décor. Why live with a plain, drab entertainment room when you can cover the walls with movie artwork? The truly dedicated even build or commission themed theaters with Star Wars paraphernalia, a Star Trek bridge design or spooky Batcave ambiance.